The Astros introduced Ed Wade as their 11th general manager in a press conference at Minute Maid Park this afternoon.

Wade, who was chosen by Astros owner Drayton McLane over 10 other candidates, began his baseball career in the Astros media relations department in 1977 and is best known for serving as general manager of the Philadelphia Philles from 1998-2005.

Wade is reunited with his mentor, Tal Smith, the Astros president of business operations, who led the search for the general manager after Tim Purpura was fired Aug. 27.

"This is the most important non-player personnel decision I think the club and Drayton have made since he purchased the club in 1993," Smith said.

Wade, 51, inherits an Astros team that's in last place in the National League Central and is widely regarded to have one of the worst minor league systems in baseball. But he's convinced the Astros a strong enough nucleus of players to get back into contention.

"I'm very, very excited to have this opportunity," he said. "There's going to be a learning curve involved, but I run pretty well uphill and hope to get to the top of that curve quickly and make things happen."

Wade built the Phillies back toward respectability after inheriting a team that won only 68 games in 1997 and 67 in 1996 while finishing (fifth) last in the NL East. By the time he was fired, his Phillies had finished second in the NL East in three of his last five seasons there while compiling a winning record in four of the last five.

Wade was fired just a few days after the Astros edged by Phillies by a game for the 2005 NL wild card, which The Astros carried to their first World Series berth.

He began his career as an intern in the Phillies public relations department in 1977 and later that year was named public relations assistant for the Astros. He was promoted to PR director in 1979 and in 1981 became the PR director for the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he remained for five seasons.

Wade worked for Tal Smith Enterprises from 1986 until 1989, when he rejoined the Phillies as assistant to the general manager. In 1995, ht was promoed to GM and served in that role until 1998.